I am planning a trip to Japan to arrive around the 5th or 6th of January. Is this a good time to go there because i was informed by a friend that the 1st to 4th/maybe the whole week is a Holiday in Japan? Any problems riding trains at that time?

Can anyone recommend any activities/shopping mall/arcades/book stores that operate 24/7? My partner and I are unable to find any accommodation in Sapporo center or Shin Sapporo on Christmas Eve (24th of Dec 2016) at this point, and it appears that we will be accommodation-less for the night.

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone can suggest anything we can do to kill the overnight hours.

My wife and I want to visit Japan in the spring of 2017. Possible destinations are Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. Looking for recommendations for great tour operators. Also willing to hear stories of the not-so-great, but are really looking to have a fun and interesting time. Thanks.

I am thinking of flying into Kyoto from Los Angeles and then departing from Tokyo. Originally, I was going to fly into Tokyo, visit a few days (I have 10 visiting vacation days) and then go to Kyoto and then return to Tokyo for my flight home. I have since found out how expensive it is to travel by train. I am looking into the JR pass which is $269 for 7 days. That is a good deal I believe. So, If fly into Osaka, take the train for $30 to Kyoto, then stay a few days there, then start the 7 day pass while there and use it to go to Tokyo and use it there for five days and then use it to go to the airport too to leave, is that a good economical idea? I have checked plane prices and there is about $100 increase in the flight to Osaka vs. Tokyo.